Phalaenopsis orchid plant name &#39;MALIBU BABY&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Malibu Baby’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white with a purple/violet mark in the center and some yellow on the sepals; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsis hybrida

Variety denomination: ‘Malibu Baby’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Malibu Baby’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Malibu Baby’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, Rend Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Malibu Baby’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 2003 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Malibu Class’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Ying-Yi Scarlet Baby’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Malibu Baby’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2011 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture (mericloning) was first performed in July, 2011 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Malibu Baby’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers Which are white with a purple/violet mark in the         center and some yellow on the sepals.     -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;     -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using         tissue culture;     -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and     -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Malibu Baby’, the flowers of the female parent ‘Malibu Class’ are larger than ‘Malibu Baby’ with white and yellow in the labellum. The flowers of the male parent ‘Ying-Yi Scarlet Baby’ are smaller than ‘Malibu Baby’ and white with purple in color.

Presently, the commercial cultivar to which ‘Malibu Baby’ can be meaningfully compared is ‘Prima Piano’. ‘Prima Piano’ is white with a fan-shaped violet mark, wherease ‘Malibu Baby’ white with a purple/violet mark in the center and some yellow on the sepals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying'photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Malibu Baby’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Malibu Baby’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Malibu Baby’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical flower of ‘Malibu Baby’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Malibu Baby’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Malibu Baby’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Malibu Baby’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Malibu Baby’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Malibu Baby’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Malibu Baby’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Malibu Baby’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Malibu Baby’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification: Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Malibu Class’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Ying-Yi Scarlet Baby’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 3 mm-6             mm wide and greyed/green in color (RHS 190A); freely             branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue             culture to initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 30 cm Spread: about 20-30 cm.         -   Growth habit.—small; green leaves (RHS N137B) and a             relatively normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 1-3 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 8 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—oval; the tip is blunt and             asymmetric.         -   Texture (upper & underside).—smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—none.         -   Mature leaf length.—about 15 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—about 4 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—about 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—upper side: green (RHS 137B). Under side:             green (RHS 138A).         -   Leaf base.—acute.         -   Margin.—entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: upper side:             green (RHS N137A) under side: green (RHS N137A). -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower. -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—about 1 to 3.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—about 6-18.         -   Length.—about 40 cm.         -   Diameter.—about 4 mm. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—about 15 cm.         -   Diameter.—about 3 mm.         -   Strength.—strong.         -   Aspect.—upright.         -   Texture.—glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—green (RHS 143A). -   Buds:     -   -   Height (from base to tip).—about 18 mm.         -   Diameter (at midpoint).—about 17 mm.         -   Shape.—oval with a bump.         -   Color.—yellow/green (RHS 145C) with red/purple (RHS 70A).         -   Orientation.—same as flowers (forward facing).         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after             a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 1-3             racemes appear with flower buds and flowers. First flowers             can be expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a             plant with a leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—no fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at             opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of             Phalaenopsis; see FIG. 2 Size (of single bloom): Height:             about 5 cm Diameter: about 6 cm Quantity and arrangement:             three petals and three sepals that are trimerous,             overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are more             pronounced than sepals.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2             lateral petals and a labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall             shape: little triangular and weakly cupped Apex: oval             Margin: entire and weakly undulate Base: broadly ovate             Length: about 25 mm Width: about 28 mm Texture: Upper             surface: smooth and satiny Under surface: smooth and satiny             Color (when fully opened): upper side: main color is white             (RHS NN155C) with at the base a purple/violet mark (RHS             N80A). Under side: main color is white (RHS NN155C) with at             the base some purple/violet (RHS N80C) Labellum: Overall             shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities at central             junction of the lateral lobes and base of the midlobe.             Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward about the column; the             midlobe extends forward and is terminated by 2 filiform             appendages at the apex. Lateral lobes of the labellum are             ovate in shape while the midlobe is triangular with a bump             and a rib on it. Margin: entire and weakly undulate Apex of             the midlobe and lateral lobes: oval Length midlobe: about 21             mm Width midlobe (not flattened): about 20 mm Length lateral             lobe: about 15 mm Width lateral lobe (not flattened): about             12 mm Depth of tube created by lateral lobes of labellum:             about 15 mm Texture: Upper & under surface: smooth and             satiny Color (when fully opened): Midlobe, upper side: at             the base yellow (RHS 12A) which runs into purple/violet (RHS             N80A) with all over some white spots (RHS NN155C). Under             side: white (RHS NN155C) with in the corners yellow (RHS             12A), and purple/violet on the edges (RHS N80A). Lateral             lobes, upper side: at the base white (RHS NN155C) with             red/purple stripes and spots (RHS 70A) which runs into             purple/violet (RHS N80A) with at the lowe edge some yellow             (RHS 12A) and the at the upper edge some white (RHS NN155C).             Under side: at the base white (RHS NN155C) which runs into             purple/violet (RHS N80A). At the bottom edge some yellow             (RHS 12A). Cirrhi: about 10 mm color: purple/violet (RHS             N80A) which runs into yellow (RHS 2D) Pestle (Callosities):             Length: about 5 mm Width (not flattened): about 6 mm Color:             white on the sides (RHS NN155C) and yellow on the edges and             on the top (RHS 12A) with red/purple stripes and spots (RHS             70A).         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals, one             dorsal and two lateral sepals Overall shape: elliptical and             weakly cupped Margin: entire and weakly undulate Length:             about 25 mm Width: about 18 mm Apex: oval; lateral are a             little pointy Texture: Upper and under surface: smooth and             satiny Color (when fully opened): Upper side, dorsal: white             (RHS NN155C) with at the base a purple/violet mark (RHS             N80A). Lateral: white (RHS NN155C) with a purple/violet mark             at the base. At the lower part a yellow (RHS 12C) haze.             Under side, dorsal: white (RHS NN155C) with haze of             purple/violet (RHS N80A) Lateral: white (RHS NN155C) with             haze of purple/violet (RHS N80A). At the base some             green/yellow (RHS 144C).         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 20 mm Diameter: about 4 mm Texture:             glabrous and smooth Color: At the flower white (RHS NN155C)             which runs into yellow/green (RHS 144C and RHS 144A). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.         -   Column.—Length: about 8 mm Diameter: about 4 mm Color: white             (RHS NN155C) and some purple/violet (RHS N80A) stripes and             spots.         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: two Diameter: about 2 mm Color:             yellow/orange (RHS 23A).         -   Ovary.—Length: about 3 mm Diameter: about 2 mm Color: white             (RHS NN155C) with purple/violet on the edges (RHS N80A). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Malibu Baby’, as illustrated and described herein. 